Rural Advisor [Fixed Term]

Te whakapakari tahi i tō tātau Taiao – Enhancing our environment together.

Our vision is a healthy environment and a resilient and prosperous community.

About The opportunity | Ko te āheinga:

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual who has community engagement experience and is looking for an opportunity to make a real difference to outcomes for rural landowners across Hawke’s Bay. This is a relationship management role that will work with individuals and groups who have been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to join HBRC’s Rural Recovery section on a fixed term basis. This section exists due to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle and is expected to ensure that the rural aspects of the region’s recovery are appropriately factored into the regional recovery framework and programme delivery. In this role you will act as a connector and networker, bridging the gap between the challenges our rural community is facing and the most appropriate information and resources, to best support their recovery. 

You will operate within the context of Essential Freshwater regulations and act as a primary HBRC contact for catchment and community groups, catchment collectives and community hubs in rural areas. Working with these groups you will act as an intermediary and work across council functions to help identify appropriate workshops, events and extension activities that connect rural communities to the priority areas of Hawke’s Bay Regional Council e.g., erosion control, pole planting, land management, land restoration, policy implementation, consenting, compliance, water resources and river dynamics, to name a few.

For more specific detail on the responsibilities of this role, please view the job description here.

This is a full time, 18-month, fixed term role which will be based in our Wairoa office. You will be expected to travel within the region quite frequently, either to attend community engagement activities or other council and stakeholder offices. 

About you | E pā ana ki a koe:

To be a good fit for this role you will be experienced in providing primary sector related technical advice, preferably related to land management, and you will have a good understanding of farming/growing systems and current rural issues. 

We are looking for someone who is not only knowledgeable but personable and confident to engage one-on-one, in community group settings, or in front of a hall full of people if required. You will thrive off contributing to improved outcomes for members of our community. 

Ideally you will also have:

• A good understanding of social, economic and financial issues in the primary sector.
• An awareness of cultural challenges as they relate to HBRC and the community.
• Excellent standard of written and verbal communication.
• Project management skills.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Strong facilitation and leadership skills.
• Resilience, adaptability, and flexibility to keep up with the ever-changing nature of HBRC. 

What we offer | Nga huanga mōu:

The salary range for this role is between $89,640 to $99,600 and will depend on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. 

Other benefits of working for our team include:

• Flexible working options to support work/life balance.
• Subsidised eye tests and lenses, flu vaccinations, and other well-being initiatives.
• Strong commitment to developing and upskilling people within a supportive working environment. 

To see a full list of our benefits please visit our website.

We value diversity and as such we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status although applicants must have existing rights to work in New Zealand. HBRC is responsible for Civil Defence emergencies and as such, all staff may be called upon to support the response.

How to apply | I pēhea ki te whakauru:

Applications close 29 February 2024 - we will be shortlisting and interviewing appropriate candidates as applications are received. If you are interested in this position, please do not wait to apply as we may close the ad earlier than advertised.

To view the job description please visit our website here.

Please apply through Seek. If you require any further information, please email recruitment@hbrc.govt.nz.

About us | E pā ki a mātou:

At Hawke’s Bay Regional Council our purpose is to work with our community to protect and manage the region’s precious taonga of rivers, lakes, soils, air, coast and biodiversity for health, wellbeing and connectivity. Our organisation is diverse and our work is varied. Our structure comprises of six key business units; Corporate Services, Integrated Catchment Management, Asset Management, Māori Partnerships, Policy & Regulation, and the Executive Advisory Group which also consists of the Civil Defence and Emergency Management.

We focus on prioritising:

Te kounga o te wai, te haumarutanga me te mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi o te whakamarutanga | Water quality, safety and climate-resilient security.  

Kia koi, kia toitū hoki te whakamahinga o te whenua | Climate-smart and sustainable land use. 

Kia ora, kia āhei, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki te rerenga rauropi | Healthy, functioning and climate-resilient biodiversity. 

Kia toitū, kia mārohirohi ā-āhuarangi hoki ngā ratonga me ngā hanganga ā-whare | Sustainable and climate-resilient services and infrastructure. 

30 January 2024

Back to News Archive